Kwankwaso vs Ganduje: Senate summons IGP

The Nigerian Senate has indicated interest to intervene in the
lingering feud between Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano Central) and
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to evolve amicable ways to
proffer lasting solutions to the disagreement.

Consequently, the Senate has directed the committee on police affairs
to immediately summon the Inspector General of Police to provide
adequate security to Senator Kwankwaso to enable him visit his
constituency in Kano State.

This directive, Senate insisted is to prevent reoccurence and or avert
same action by the security agencies to not someday be taken against
any lawmaker who may wish to visit his or constituency.

The lawmakers frowned and condemned in strong terms the action of the
Kano State Police Command that advised Kwankwaso against embarking on
a visit to his constituency.

The police had claimed that the visit would generate tension in the
area which may lead to breakdown of law and order.

The feud between the duo, took a deadly dimension when recently, about
six members of the Kwankwasiyya and Gandujiyya groups clashed in Kano
and several persons were seriously injured.

The resolution became necesasry following a motion moved by Senator
Isah Misau (Bauchi Central) on Wednesday, on the alarming thuggery in
Kano State where, he noted, carriage of arms by youths have continued
unabated. He alleged that the armed youths were sponsored and that the
police were also influenced to halt Senator Kwankwaso's visit to Kano.

Misau queried why some prominent politicians have resorted to
providing arms to youths, instead of giving them jobs and asked the
Senate to quickly investigate the crisis in Kano State.

But Senators Kabiru Gaya (Kano South) and Barau Jibrin (Kano North)
vehemenly kicked against the motion. While Barau described Misau as a
busy body who is only interloping into the "backyard squabbles" of the
Kano people, Gaya stated that the feud between Kwankwaso and Ganduje
is a family matter and should not be brought before the floor of the
Senate. He maintained that fervent efforts are on to resolve the
crisis.

Although Senator Kwankwaso when asked to comment, blatantly refused to
make essential contribution on the issue in plenary, insisting that as
statesman, he would not want to speak on a matter that is under
resolution.

Meanwhile, Senate President, Bukola Saraki in his ruling advised
politicians to always resolve issues amicably with the view to
fostering harmony, unity and development.

"We must always try to resolve issues amicably and to also, always
detect the kind of matters that will be brought to the floor of
Senate. It is not right that a Senator cannot visit his constituency.
The committee on police should summon the IGP and they must provide
security to Senator Kwankwaso to enable him visit his constituency,"
Saraki insisted.